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Canberra would simply turn back the boats to Indonesia with the only caveat being, ''when it was safe to do so''. ''Safe'', you will note. Not ''politic'', not ''agreed'', not ''in co-operation with'', just ''safe''.

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Yet, since the election, since actually being in charge and having responsibility for outcomes rather than slogans, the government is finding that it is not that easy. International relationships are complex and multi-factorial.

The Abbott government's response to that embarrassing realisation is about as contemptuous of the voters now as the Coalition had been of the previous Australian government, or for that matter, of any likely Indonesian sensitivities.

Cargo of misery: Asylum seekers arrive at Christmas Island after Indonesia refused permission for the vessel to return to a port. Photo: Sharon Tisdale

This has brought another transformation from Morrison, who has shamelessly flipped from loud and omnipresent critic to indignant introvert.

Snapping superciliously at reporters who have the temerity to ask legitimate questions about the conduct of the policy at a once-a-week press conference merely makes the problem worse. Australian voters will eventually wake up to the fact that they were sold a pup.

If it were merely a case of sending boats back, it would have been tried years ago. Which, by the way, it was, and it even worked a handful of times until people smugglers and their desperate clientele worked out a response. Until a political party (now in office) started shouting explicitly about an aspect of policy that had, until then, been decidedly unofficial.

It gets worse for Australia than a bit of well-deserved facial egg for Morrison and Abbott.

After revelations that the Australian embassy in Jakarta is being used to conduct spying operations, the Indonesian government is sending back a few messages of its own. And it's not bothering with codes. Goodwill is on the line. Increased cross-border co-operation and intelligence sharing is suddenly problematic.

Facing their own domestic political pressures, the Indonesians are wondering why they would share intelligence, when (i) that information may be used against the country's national interest in the case of unilateral boat turn-backs, and (ii) is being gathered anyway through spying.

Now we have the admission a boatload of people intercepted on Thursday was refused permission to return to port despite being intercepted in the Indonesian search and rescue zone.

Its human cargo of misery has been taken to Christmas Island.

If the same had occurred on the previous government's watch, this would be cue for much exclamation and hand-wringing.